Walker opposing right to work, same day voter change

As Michigan passes right to work, Governor Scott Walker does not want such a proposal in Wisconsin calling it a “distraction” from his jobs agenda. Walker references the Michigan protests and massive demonstrations in Madison in 2011, saying such blowback would distract from bigger priorities in the legislature and create an unstable business climate.

Walker says Wisconsin companies are finally seeing stability after dealing with multiple recall elections and protests. “The last thing I want to do is create that sense of uncertainty out there,” he tells reporters in Madison Wednesday.

Although he’s publicly supported abolishing the ability of Wisconsin voters to register at the polls on Election Day, a Government Accountability Board report has tacked on a price tag in the millions to make the change. Walker now says “there is no way” he’d sign such a bill because of the costs. Although two Republican lawmakers are drafting legislation to eliminate same-day registration, the governor says the bill has never been a priority and calls it a “non-starter.”

Walker, however, refuses to say he would veto such a bill. Some fear this leaves him “an out” for the bill to become law without the governor’s signature. Walker accuses his critics of creating a diversion.

“We have good ideas and they don’t have a good counter to that,” says Walker, referring to his jobs and workforce proposals. “Instead of trying to figure out ways to work together on this, they want to talk about all these side issues.”

While visiting with workers at Virent, an energy company in Madison, Walker continues plugging his five-part agenda: creating jobs, workforce development, education reform, government reform, and infrastructure investment.